Ultrasonic Pipe Flow Measurement Using Intercycle Time Averaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flow measurement methods in pipes suffer from inaccuracies due to environmental factors and energy inefficiencies, particularly when transducer distances exceed certain limits and require numerous electrical pulses, leading to unreliable and high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method involving controlled ultrasonic wave cycles with an intercycle time of at least 15 ms, alternating transducer roles, and using a control unit with standby mode to stabilize electronics, calculates fluid flow rate from propagation time differences averaged over multiple cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasonic flow measurement is performed using conventional methods with short intercycle times (a few milliseconds), then the measurement speed is fast and energy consumption is low, but the accuracy and reliability of flow rate calculations deteriorate due to environmental factors and operational asymmetries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic ultrasonic wave emission with alternating transmitter and receiver roles between cycles. The control unit systematically switches which transducer emits and which receives, creating a periodic measurement pattern that captures environmental variations and enables their compensation through differential calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by comparing propagation times from multiple cycles with alternating roles. The control unit calculates flow rates based on differences between measurements taken under slightly different environmental conditions, using this feedback to compensate for environmental factors and improve accuracy.
2Length of stationary object
If ultrasonic flow measurement uses phase compensation methods with large numbers of electrical pulses, then measurement coverage extends to longer distances, but energy consumption increases significantly and wake-up time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using only the minimum necessary number of ultrasonic pulses required for accurate measurement. Instead of continuous pulsing, the control unit emits discrete ultrasonic waves at controlled intervals, using just enough energy to achieve reliable propagation time measurements without excessive consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements periodic measurement cycles with controlled intervals, allowing the system to enter low-power states between measurements. This periodic operation reduces average energy consumption while maintaining measurement capability over the required transducer distances.
3Productivity
If measurement cycles are performed in quick succession with alternating transducer roles, then productivity is high, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to incomplete ultrasonic wave dissipation and environmental factor variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by systematically alternating the roles of transducers between measurement cycles. This predetermined role switching ensures that each measurement is taken under deliberately different conditions, allowing environmental variations to be identified and compensated for in the flow rate calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple measurements taken with alternating transducer roles to compensate for environmental factors. By comparing results from cycles where transducer roles are swapped, the control unit can identify and correct for environmental variations, improving reliability while maintaining productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances measurement accuracy and reduces energy consumption by compensating for environmental and operational asymmetries, providing reliable and efficient fluid flow rate calculations.
Implementation Method 1
a step of emitting an ultrasonic wave by a first ultrasonic transducer among said at least two ultrasonic transducers; a step of receiving said ultrasonic wave by a second ultrasonic transducer among said at least two ultrasonic transducers; and a step of measuring the propagation time of said ultrasonic wave
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a flow measurement method comprising a generation of successive cycles, each cycle comprising: - a step (35) in which an ultrasonic wave is emitted by a first ultrasonic transducer; - a step (36) in which said ultrasonic wave is received by a second ultrasonic transducer; and - a step (37) in which a propagation time of said ultrasonic wave from the first ultrasonic transducer to the second ultrasonic transducer is measured, the method being characterised in that a given cycle is separated from the preceding cycle by an intercycle duration, and in that a flow rate of the fluid is calculated from a difference between the propagation time of the given cycle and an average of the propagation time measured for the preceding cycle and that measured for the cycle following said given cycle.